SAPOA, Jhb City foster closer ties
2007-09-10 · Gauteng
The South African Property Owners Association (SAPOA) and the City of Johannesburg are joining forces to develop a more constructive relationship between the City and the commercial and industrial development industry.
The meeting between the two parties addressed key concerns that developers have in terms of operational and strategic issues.
Neil Gopal, CEO of SAPOA, says "SAPOA requested to have the meeting on the basis that our members are experiencing many problems with regard to delays with rezoning applications, clearance certificates, power outages, etc."
Gopal explains that the specialist Developers Committee was established with the aim of strengthening ties between the development community and local authorities.
At the first meeting Riaan Knuppel, interim chair of SAPOA's developers committee, said "we enjoyed an open and frank discussion, and SAPOA's comments were favourably received by the City".
The meeting between the two parties took place for the first time in mid-August and is scheduled to take place on a monthly basis.
Gopal says, with regard to the City resolving concerns raised by the committee, that "these matters can not be resolved overnight. Our intention is to meet on a regular basis to ensure that these matters are on the agenda at all times. This will give us some indication as to what the status is with a bulk of our concerns".
While SAPOA has put forward a signing mechanism as a way to solve operational issues, such as log jams with rates clearances and town planning approval, it is also offering the city access to its property database which could assist the City's policy makers.
"Part of our mandate from the property industry is to ensure SAPOA maintains good relations with government at all levels," explains Gopal.
He adds that "the developer's committee is an effective way to achieve that goal at the local level. We will be dealing with issues relating to rezoning delays, developer and local authority responsibilities, power outages, infrastructure, transport etc."
The delegation included:
Warren Schultz - CEO, RMB Properties and chairperson of SAPOA Property Owners Committee
Richard Bennet - IPROP
Quito Esteves - Chair of SAPOA Gauteng Committee,
Prof Francois Viruly - University of the Witwatersrand and SAPOA board member Kgaogelo Mamabolo - SAIBPP representative
The meeting between the two parties addressed key concerns that developers have in terms of operational and strategic issues.
Neil Gopal, CEO of SAPOA, says "SAPOA requested to have the meeting on the basis that our members are experiencing many problems with regard to delays with rezoning applications, clearance certificates, power outages, etc."
Gopal explains that the specialist Developers Committee was established with the aim of strengthening ties between the development community and local authorities.
At the first meeting Riaan Knuppel, interim chair of SAPOA's developers committee, said "we enjoyed an open and frank discussion, and SAPOA's comments were favourably received by the City".
The meeting between the two parties took place for the first time in mid-August and is scheduled to take place on a monthly basis.
Gopal says, with regard to the City resolving concerns raised by the committee, that "these matters can not be resolved overnight. Our intention is to meet on a regular basis to ensure that these matters are on the agenda at all times. This will give us some indication as to what the status is with a bulk of our concerns".
While SAPOA has put forward a signing mechanism as a way to solve operational issues, such as log jams with rates clearances and town planning approval, it is also offering the city access to its property database which could assist the City's policy makers.
"Part of our mandate from the property industry is to ensure SAPOA maintains good relations with government at all levels," explains Gopal.
He adds that "the developer's committee is an effective way to achieve that goal at the local level. We will be dealing with issues relating to rezoning delays, developer and local authority responsibilities, power outages, infrastructure, transport etc."
The delegation included:
Warren Schultz - CEO, RMB Properties and chairperson of SAPOA Property Owners Committee
Richard Bennet - IPROP
Quito Esteves - Chair of SAPOA Gauteng Committee,
Prof Francois Viruly - University of the Witwatersrand and SAPOA board member Kgaogelo Mamabolo - SAIBPP representative
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